On the Astros: Rebuild is rough when old haunts keep haunting

PHILADELPHIA – There are going to be a lot of bad days in a rebuilding project, and Tuesday may have been one of the worst of them.

If you’re an Astros fan you hope, not even necessarily that Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart combine to be better than Hunter Pence, but even that they just make their contributions when the Astros get good again rather than wasting them on a lesser roster like Pence may have.

But in the interim, there is a reality about trading a player like Pence, who hit the walkoff home run Tuesday that sent the Astros to their fourth straight loss, 4-3 to the Phillies.

You’re trading someone who is really good at baseball for someone(s) who aren’t that good at baseball yet, and the guy who is really good at baseball can still kill you.

The Astros saw it with Lance Berkman last year, though not with the team they sent him to, when Berkman hit .425 with a .900 slugging percentage and five home runs in 11 games. And now they’re seeing it with Pence, who even amid his struggles at the plate lately and a costly error in the ninth inning Tuesday, swatted two out including the game-winner to the front row in left field off Brett Myers.

“The main thing is just getting out of the way of myself,” the often-awkward Pence said after boos that have become more frequent turned to cheers.

Myers had been getting ready during the comeback in case the Astros took the lead in the ninth, but Brandon Lyon remained in for a second scoreless inning in the bottom. Brad Mills said he didn’t want to let Myers get too cold when he used him in the unconventional closer timing of a tie game on the road. Still, Myers said he was confused about the usage.

“Honestly, I’ve been around and I’ve closed before and coming into a tie ballgame on the road, I was prepared but I don’t know; it just baffled me a little bit,” Myers said. “But I just go out there and do my job. That’s all I can do. When called upon, just go out there and do it.”

Managers don’t typically use a closer in a non-save situation on the road because if the team takes the lead, a save situation often comes up. However, not managing to the save statistic and using the best reliever in a tie game can help prolong the game to the point where the road team has a much less stressful situation for someone else when it scores a couple of runs.

Either way, Myers retired Shane Victorino before Pence left the yard on a 2-1 cutter away, which Myers didn’t think was out.

“I honestly thought it was going to fall in front of the left fielder or possibly a sliding catch,” Myers said. “I didn’t think he hit it good at all.”

The reason the game was prolonged was a hardly-unexpected rally in the ninth, begun by a Jordan Schafer pinch-double against Chad Qualls, trying to close with Jonathan Papelbon unavailable.

Carlos Lee drove Schafer home with a single, and with his team down to its last out, J.D. Martinez came through with a single that only scored pinch-runner Brian Bogusevic because of Pence’s boot in the outfield. Bogusevic had originally stopped at third, as did Martinez after Jason Castro’s double (with a good throw headed plateward) and before Marwin Gonzalez stranded both runners.

Before that outburst, the Astros got next to nothing against Cliff Lee, who is somehow still winless despite a 1.95 ERA.

Like Monday night, it was just a home run that separated the Phillies starter from a scoreless outing with Downs taking Lee deep to left on a 3-1 fastball in the seventh. Beyond that, the lefthanded co-ace was outstanding, striking out 10 and walking one in his eight innings of work.

Jordan Lyles could have enjoyed a matching fate, just a home run allowed, were it not for an extremely costly error on Jose Altuve. The second baseman fielded a routine grounder from John Mayberry Jr. in the second inning and threw considerably wide, pulling Carlos Lee off the bag and allowing Brian Schneider to bat with a man on and two outs. Schneider went deep for the first time this year, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead on the unearned runs.

Pence added a solo shot in the sixth, which would be Lyles’ last inning, matching his first start.

As the righthander’s day was ending, Pence’s was just getting started.

Phillies 4, Astros 3 (10 innings)

Tipping point: The Phillies regained control of the situation when they replaced Chad Qualls with lefty Jake Diekman for as stressful a major league debut as you can get. Diekman struck out Marwin Gonzalez with two on and two out and pitched a scoreless 10th.

On the mound: After Jordan Lyles departed, it was more good work for Brandon Lyon, who pitched two good innings and even got a mid-game Twitter shoutout from GM Jeff Luhnow. Lyon now has a 1.88 ERA in 15 appearances.

At the plate: The march continued even with an extra inning. It’s now nine straight games with three or fewer runs scored, the team’s longest stretch since 1991. The Astros are 2-7 in these nine games and suffered their first sweep of the year Monday and Tuesday.

Under the radar: Third base coach Dave Clark’s two stop signs in the ninth inning were two of the most interesting plays. One proved meaningless because of Hunter Pence’s error, and the second resulted in a man being stranded on third by Gonzalez, though the throw was right on target with J.D. Martinez running.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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<b><center>Tuesday, May 15: Phillies 4, Astros 3, 10 innings</center></b>
Hunter Pence's second home run of the game won it for the Phillies in the 10th inning.

<b><center>Tuesday, May 15: Phillies 4, Astros 3, 10 innings</center></b>
Hunter Pence's second home run of the game won it for the Phillies in the 10th inning.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Astros closer Brett Myers walks off the field after Hunter Pence's solo homer to win the game in the 10th inning.

Astros closer Brett Myers walks off the field after Hunter Pence's solo homer to win the game in the 10th inning.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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Jordan Lyles, called up specifically to pitch this game, had a solid outing despite the outcome. He went six innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out four.

Jordan Lyles, called up specifically to pitch this game, had a solid outing despite the outcome. He went six innings, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out four.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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John Mayberry of the Phillies is tagged out at home by catcher Jason Castro.

John Mayberry of the Phillies is tagged out at home by catcher Jason Castro.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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J.D. Martinez ended his 0-for-26 slump with two hits for the Astros.

J.D. Martinez ended his 0-for-26 slump with two hits for the Astros.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Freddy Galvis leaps to avoid the slide of Jason Castro after Galvis threw to first to complete a double play on a ball hit by Houston's Marwin Gonzalez in the eighth.

Freddy Galvis leaps to avoid the slide of Jason Castro after Galvis threw to first to complete a double play on a ball hit by Houston's Marwin Gonzalez in the eighth.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Hunter Pence breaks his bat as he grounds out to end the first inning.

Hunter Pence breaks his bat as he grounds out to end the first inning.

Photo: Rich Schultz / Getty Images

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Phillies starter Cliff Lee struck out 10 in eight innings and allowed just one run but is still looking for his first win.

Phillies starter Cliff Lee struck out 10 in eight innings and allowed just one run but is still looking for his first win.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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Freddy Galvis, left moves to tag out Houston Astros' Justin Maxwell as Maxwell attempted to steal second base in the first inning.

Freddy Galvis, left moves to tag out Houston Astros' Justin Maxwell as Maxwell attempted to steal second base in the first inning.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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Jordan Lyles stands on the mound after Philadelphia' Brian Schneider hit a two-run home run in the second inning.

Jordan Lyles stands on the mound after Philadelphia' Brian Schneider hit a two-run home run in the second inning.

Photo: H. RUMPH JR / Associated Press

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<b><center>May 14: Phillies 5, Astros 1</center></b>
Pitcher Lucas Harrell allowed three runs on five hits to drop his record to 2-3.

<b><center>May 14: Phillies 5, Astros 1</center></b>
Pitcher Lucas Harrell allowed three runs on five hits to drop his record to 2-3.

Photo: H. Rumph Jr / Associated Press

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Pitcher Lucas Harrell throws against the Phillies in the first inning.

Pitcher Lucas Harrell throws against the Phillies in the first inning.

Photo: Drew Hallowell / 2012 Getty Images

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Brian Bogusevic throws his bat after striking out against the Phillies in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 14, 2012, in Philadelphia.

Brian Bogusevic throws his bat after striking out against the Phillies in the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 14, 2012, in Philadelphia.

Photo: H. Rumph Jr / Associated Press

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First baseman Carlos Lee follows through on a hit.

First baseman Carlos Lee follows through on a hit.

Photo: Drew Hallowell / 2012 Getty Images

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John Mayberry Jr. (15) #15 of the Phillies gets tagged out at home plate by Chris Snyder.

John Mayberry Jr. (15) #15 of the Phillies gets tagged out at home plate by Chris Snyder.

Photo: Drew Hallowell / 2012 Getty Images

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Travis Buck comments to home plate umpire Jerry Layne after striking out in the ninth inning.

Travis Buck comments to home plate umpire Jerry Layne after striking out in the ninth inning.

Marwin Gonzalez runs the bases after he hit a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning.

Marwin Gonzalez runs the bases after he hit a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the eighth inning.

Photo: H. Rumph Jr / Associated Press

On the Astros: Rebuild is rough when old haunts keep haunting

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Original story

PHILADELPHIA – Hunter Pence killed the Astros with a dagger of a home run, he let them back in with a devastating error and then he killed them again in a 4-3 Phillies’ win.

Pence found the first row in the left field seats with a walkoff home run off closer Brett Myers, who entered in a tie game in the bottom of the 10th. The home run spoiled the Astros’ comeback from down 3-1 in which Pence himself played a big role with an E-9.

Myers had been getting ready during the comeback in case the Astros took the lead in the ninth, but Brandon Lyon remained in for a second scoreless inning in the bottom. Brad Mills said he didn’t want to let Myers get too cold when he used him in the unconventional closer timing of a tie game on the road. Still, Myers said he was confused about the usage.

“Honestly, I’ve been around and I’ve closed before and coming into a tie ballgame on the road, I was prepared but I don’t know; it just baffled me a little bit,” Myers said. “But I just go out there and do my job. That’s all I can do. When called upon, just go out there and do it.”

Myers retired Shane Victorino before Pence left the yard on a 2-1 cutter away, spoiling what really had been a good comeback by a sleepy offense.

Jordan Schafer, who was on the bench to start the game as Brad Mills piled up righties to face Cliff Lee, started the ninth inning with a pinch-double against former Astro Chad Qualls. (Closer Jonathan Papelbon was unavailable, having pitched in three straight games.)

After a Matt Downs groundout, Carlos Lee, who teamed up with Brandon Lyon for a nifty 3-1 putout to keep the game 3-1, singled to halve the lead.

The Astros were down to their last chance after a Chris Johnson groundout, but J.D. Martinez came through. A man riding an 0-for-26 slump into a fifth inning single, Martinez singled again, and the pinch-runner Brian Bogusevic, initially held at third, scored when Pence was too hasty trying to throw home and booted the ball.

They had a chance to take the lead too, when Jason Castro doubled and Martinez got another stop sign from Dave Clark on a much cleaner play. But Marwin Gonzalez struck out swinging in the major league debut of Jake Diekman, who stepped into the void left by Qualls and the boos that followed him off the mound.

Before that outburst, the Astros got next to nothing against Cliff Lee, who is somehow still winless despite a 1.95 ERA.

Like Monday night, it was just a home run that separated the Phillies starter from a scoreless outing with Downs taking Lee deep to left on a 3-1 fastball in the seventh. Beyond that, the lefthanded co-ace was outstanding, striking out 10 and walking one in his eight innings of work.

Jordan Lyles could have enjoyed a matching fate, just a home run allowed, were it not for an extremely costly error on Jose Altuve. The second baseman fielded a routine grounder from John Mayberry Jr. in the second inning and threw considerably wide, pulling Carlos Lee off the bag and allowing Brian Schneider to bat with a man on and two outs. Schneider went deep for the first time this year, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead on the unearned runs.

Pence added a solo shot in the sixth, which would be Lyles’ last inning, matching his first start.

Lyles went six innings like he did in his first start. He had been summoned to Philadelphia Monday and may finally be here to stay. The Astros have three times filled Kyle Weiland’s vacated spot in the rotation, twice now with Lyles and once with Aneury Rodriguez, but with no off-day coming up, Mills said he looks forward to another Lyles start. That will presumably Sunday against the Rangers.